The Irony Isn’t Lost on Me
I was walking home
when I noticed
a leather-bound copy
of the Book of Mormon
on the sidewalk.
It was wet and moldy,
lying right next to
an empty liquor bottle.
And I couldn’t help
but laugh to myself
about that.
©2023 Gabriel Bates All rights reserved.
Gabriel Bates is a poet living in Tiffin, Ohio. His work has appeared in several publications, online and in print. Keep up with him at gabrielbates.substack.com.
I’m Sick of It
I’ve got $20 to my name,
one pack of cigarettes left,
my Wi-Fi just went out,
the neighbor’s shitty weed
is stinking up my apartment,
I’m constantly sleep deprived,
all my bills have gone up,
my body feels like it’s falling apart,
my next check won’t be enough,
and to top it all off,
I haven’t been laid in weeks.
How does a man not snap
and go completely postal?
Well,
I guess when you’ve been
the world’s doormat
for as long as you can remember,
the dirt you’re covered in
starts to feel natural.
©2023 Gabriel Bates All rights reserved.
Gabriel Bates is a poet living in Tiffin, Ohio. His work has appeared in several publications, online and in print. Keep up with him at gabrielbates.substack.com.
